Compiled by Tess Connery and Jasper Baumann
Behind the twists and turns of LiSTNR’s You Don’t Know Me
The six-part original crime audio drama podcast series You Don’t Know Me is live now on LiSTNR, having been adapted from the novel by award-winning Australian crime writer Sara Foster.
You Don’t Know Me is a fictional podcast series set in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with unseen twists as each episode focuses on a different potential suspect that allows the listener to immerse themselves as an ‘armchair detective’. The story centres on the mysterious disappearance Lizzie Burdett, and the secrets of those in the community around her.
The podcast drama is Big Little Lies meets Agatha Christie, and family drama meets crime-thriller in a compelling all-new immersive audio-storytelling format.
Podcast Week’s Tess Connery spoke to LiSTNR Original Podcasts head of factual and drama, Jennifer Goggin, about pushing the boundaries with You Don’t Know Me.
Before diving into You Don’t Know Me, Goggin spoke about LiSTNR’s Australian-produced The Children in the Pictures podcast series winning gold in the ‘narrative/documentary podcasts’ category at the 2023 New York Festivals Radio Awards.
“To have all the work that the team put into that piece of work recognised on such a global scale was just an incredible experience. We’re really grateful for it, and we’re really just delighted that we’re winning gold at awards like these.”
See Also: LiSTNR’s ‘The Children in the Pictures’ podcast wins 2023 radio gold award
There’s no rest for the wicked, however, and back in the LiSTNR studios, Goggin says that You Don’t Know Me came about after the team identified a gap in the audio market.
“We saw an opportunity in drama to be the next frontier of audio entertainment, and that the way audio production was moving was similar to the equivalent of CGI in film. With the types of stories we could tell in audio – now that we have 3D sound and the skill set that we have within the team – there was a huge opportunity to create something new. We started a partnership with Bob Campbell at Bryden Media to start adapting books, to turn them into what would be audio-first stories.
“The type of audio dramas we’re creating, they’re not audiobooks and they’re not radio plays, in that they don’t have a central narrator, we’re not describing the scene ahead of you going into it. We don’t have a narrative voice that describes every element, you listen within the character’s body. Everything has to naturally happen in sound around you, because we don’t have someone commentating.
Goggin says that the team were working to create something that felt “closer to the offering of serialised drama on Netflix but within the audio space,” but without the visuals. Pulling this off sometimes meant tweaking small details to make the most of the audio experience.
“If you’re reading a book that has a bank heist, they’ll describe every element of it – but if you think of the sound of a bank heist, you can’t hear it. If you can’t hear the action, it doesn’t fit in the audio world, so you may need to change the setting of the scenes or figure out where some background soundtrack can let you know where the character is in space and time.
“An example from You Don’t Know Me is that there were quite a lot of rock climbing scenes within the original book. Rock climbing doesn’t work for us in audio, so we changed them into driving scenes, cooking scenes, and then ultimately a scene that is not rock climbing but is adrenaline inducing.”
Whilst LiSTNR are currently working on the adaptation of existing stories into audio dramas, Goggin says that in the future listeners may see original scrips from the team.
“We’re still in the book adaptation phase, there’s quite a lot of opportunity in the fact that there are great crime writers in Australia. Also, when it comes to converting book listeners into podcast listeners, it is a familiar format for them to try and jump into a new medium.
“Ultimately, we will go into original scripted drama, but at the moment, we’re in the thick of our next production already with our adaptation phase.”
Goggin hopes that You Don’t Know Me will provide a story that people can really get involved in, and one that transports them to where the action is no matter where they may be.
“We wanted to offer a fully immersive experience, something that felt like it transported you out of your life. You felt all of the excitement of the characters as you listened, because with the perspective, it’s effectively happening to you. It will give you that voyeuristic excitement of being in a crime, but because it’s based on fiction, we’ve gamified it a bit so that you play along as armchair detective.
“For me, a very influential moment in my life was when I heard War of the Worlds for the first time – I just thought ‘wow, audio has transported me into a different world, and I’m actively travelling through this world even though I can’t see it’. That’s what we want You Don’t Know Me to offer people, that really powerful experience that only audio can in creating this theatre of the mind. That’s what we’re hoping for.”
[Listen to You Don’t Know Me here]
Nine announce new podcast series Cars That Made Australia
In the eight-part podcast series, Cars That Made Australia, comedian Tim “Rosso” Ross takes listeners on a ride down memory lane, telling the story of people who drove them and the people that rode in them.
Through a mix of personal anecdotes and in-depth interviews with passionate owners, sentimental backseat drivers, auto experts and industry insiders, the podcast explores the significant role that cars have played in shaping Australia’s culture and society over the decades.
Over the series, Tim Ross chats with the likes of Merrick Watts on his adventures in the infamous Leyland P76; Australian director Fred Scheppisi about being at the helm of the legendary ‘Hey Charger’ ad campaign; and Alex Kyriakopulos, who worked on the production line at Holden for 14 years and was there as the very final vehicle rolled off the line.
[Listen to Cars That Made Australia here]
LiSTNR launches Dr Golly and The Experts
A new LiSTNR original podcast titled Dr Golly and the Experts, released on April 26, will follow Dr Daniel Golshebsky (Dr Golly) talking with ‘experts’ – parents who have, through necessity, become a specialist in their child’s – or their own – health journey, from diagnosis to day-to-day treatment and beyond.
As former chief resident medical officer at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Dr Golly has treated many high-profile Australian families as they deal with medical conditions ranging from epilepsy, autism, eczema, sleep deprivation, croup and ADHD, and he has a rare talent as an expert, and as an expert translator.
In the first episode, Dr Golly speaks with Australian sports broadcaster and Seven Sport presenter, Hamish McLachlan, whose daughter Milla was diagnosed with West Syndrome at eight months old.
Nova launches ‘Boldly Me’ with Chloé Hayden
Known for her role as Quinni in the Netflix series Heartbreak High, Chloé Hayden has teamed up with NOVA Entertainment to launch the new original podcast ‘Boldly Me’.
As an advocate for disability rights and diversity, Hayden will interview people who, just like her self, are living life boldly as their true selves.
Each episode will see Chloé joined in conversation with someone known for living their life authentically and with confidence, sharing everything from life lessons to advice for overcoming challenges and learning to embrace your sparkle.
Hayden said, “To be hosting my own podcast where the voices and experiences of so many diverse humans are heard, heroed and celebrated is something I have been longing for and something that society has needed for far too long.”
Close to the Mic aims to unify industry voice
Sonia Yee is the editor and founder of the new platform that aims to bring podcast industry voices together from New Zealand, Australia and Asia.
The mission behind Close to the Mic is to promote and profile the work of those in the sector, in what Yee described as “an increasingly competitive environment that continues to change.”
The platform provides a space for industry profiles and stories, new podcast launches, events, awards announcements, and industry appointments. Audio professionals and those in related-storytelling industries can also submit podcast reviews.
“It’s as much about profiling great work coming out of New Zealand, Australia and Asia, as it is about unifying the industry and professional body as a whole.
“There are so many talented, intelligent, creative people in broadcast media and the podcasting industry, so creating a platform that brings great content and podcast-related news together in one place will help to build a strong community,” says Yee.
[Read more about Close to the Mic here]
Shadow of Doubt launches to #1 on Apple Podcasts
On the 31st of March, the team at The Australian released their brand new series Shadow of Doubt. The podcast is available exclusively each Friday to subscribers for the first two weeks, then to the public, and is currently #1 on Apple Podcasts.
The podcast follows the story of a mother and father convicted of torturing and abusing their daughter as a sex slave. The father is serving 48 years in jail – the longest sentence in Australian history for child abuse. His wife is serving 16 years.
Investigative journalist Richard Guillatt explores a spectacular collision of memory, therapy, trauma and conflicting ‘truths’ in the new podcast from The Australian.
[Listen to Shadow of Doubt here]
